Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Michigan

Wages, programs & career outlook

Automotive mechanics diagnose and repair cars, SUVs, and light trucks — engines, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, and the computer controls that tie it all together. Work happens in dealership service bays, independent repair shops, or fleet maintenance garages.

MI Median Salary
$48,840/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
MI Employment
20,650
Automotive Mechanics employed
MI Sponsors
28
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
70,000
Nationally, per yr

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Michigan: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Michigan combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Michigan pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Michigan are $48,840/year, -2% below the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Michigan has 28 registered apprenticeship sponsors for automotive mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% job growth for automotive mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 70,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Michigan-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Michigan Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in Michigan across all experience levels.

10th pct
$31,840
Median
$48,840
90th pct
$79,680
Middle 50% of workers earn $38,150$63,540

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Michigan

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Michigan. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Michigan

28 automotive mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Michigan. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Ford-Lincoln Motor Company Allen Park Wayne County
Chrysler-UAW Technology Training Center Auburn Hills Oakland County
Musashi Auto Parts Battle Creek Calhoun County
International Wheel & Tire Inc. Farmington Oakland County
Lasco Ford, Inc. Fenton
Red Barn Auto Fife Lake
Dondelinger Ford Grand Rapids
Kool Toyota Grand Rapids
Tesla Motors Inc Grand Rapids Kent County
Tony Betten and Sons Ford Inc Grand Rapids
Zeigler Auto Group Grandville
Kelly Imports Auto Service Jackson
Kirchhoff Automotive Lansing Lansing Ingham County
Milnes Ford Lapeer
FORD MOTOR CO. Lincoln Park Wayne County
Roush Enterprises LLC Livonia Wayne County
Russ Milnes Ford, Inc. Macomb
Monroe Dodge Chrysler Monroe
Great Lakes Ford of Muskegon Muskegon
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. Parma Jackson County
Magna - Autosystems America Inc. Plymouth
Rivian Automotive, LLC Plymouth
Tower Automotive (Plymouth) Plymouth Wayne County
THK Rhythm Automotive Portland Ionia County
Ryan Roscia, Inc., DBA Dick Huvaere's Richmond Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Richmond
+ 3 more sponsors in Michigan
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3023 and state MI for the most relevant results.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Michigan

Program availability in Michigan is moderate: 28 Automotive Mechanic-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Automotive Mechanic salary in Michigan?
The median annual wage for Automotive Mechanics in Michigan is $48,840 as of May 2024. Wages range from $31,840 at the 10th percentile to $79,680 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become an Automotive Mechanic through apprenticeship?
Most Automotive Mechanic apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Automotive Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Michigan?
Contact one of the 28 Automotive Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Michigan (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Automotive Mechanic apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Michigan, a first-year Automotive Mechanic apprentice might earn around $24,420/yr (roughly half the $48,840 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Automotive Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs in Michigan →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Michigan

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.